Thawing Out: Oaklawn Rearranges Feb. 20-21 Stakes Schedule

With the area under a winter storm warning and temperatures not forecast above freezing until Friday, Feb. 19, officials at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., have rescheduled five stakes next weekend, including several that already had been postponed from the Feb. 13-15 Presidents Day holiday weekend when racing was cancelled.

Citing the prospects of warmer weather on Sunday, Feb. 21, officials have moved three stakes to that date: the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes (a Kentucky Derby qualifying points race offering 18 points),the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap for older horses, and the Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares.

The Razorback was originally scheduled on Feb. 13, while the Southwest and Bayakoa were to be run on Presidents Day, Feb. 15. All three were moved to Feb. 20 after the weekend cancellations but will now be run on Feb. 21.

The $150,000 Dixie Bell Stakes, originally scheduled on Feb. 13 and then moved to Feb. 21, will now be run on Saturday, Feb. 20. The $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes will be run on Feb. 20 as originally scheduled.

The weather forecast currently calls for snow on Monday, freezing temperatures through Thursday (with the prospect of snow showers on Thursday morning), and clearing on Friday with highs in the upper 30s. Saturday's long-range forecast projects a high of 45, with temperatures on Sunday expected to reach 50 degrees.

Because of freezing temperatures, the Oaklawn track has been closed to training from Feb. 12-14.

 

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Archie Watson Runners Out for Two Weeks Following Disease Positive

Trainer Archie Watson's runners will not compete at racecourses for at least two weeks after a horse was found to be positive for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) antibodies before an intended trip to France.

Watson withdrew a trio of UK runners from races on Saturday and another runner from Southwell on Sunday. Horses infected with the virus are typically asymptomatic, but can display a fever, and conjunctivitis among other symptoms.

“We recently had a horse undergo routine testing for transit to France as part of the new export testing protocols,” Watson said in a statement released on Sunday. “One of these tests revealed the presence of antibodies to EVA (Equine Viral Arteritis). As a result, the relevant bodies, including the BHA, were contacted immediately and we have been taking advice from them.

“The yard is attended daily by our veterinary team and at no point have there been any clinical signs of the disease. Whilst we continue to investigate, the most sensible course of action to safeguard the British racing industry was to stop the movement of horses from my yards as further testing takes place over the next two weeks.

“I would like to thank my staff, veterinarians, and James Given at the BHA for their professionalism and efficiency in managing the situation, and my owners for their understanding and continued support.”

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Sunday’s Card At Laurel Cancelled Due To Storm; Racing To Resume With Holiday Program On Monday

Due to a winter storm in the Mid-Atlantic region, Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., has cancelled Sunday's nine-race program.

Live racing returns Monday when Laurel will run a special Presidents Day holiday program with a 12:25 p.m. first race post time.

The MJC's off-track betting sites will remain open for simulcasting.

It's the second consecutive day Laurel has cancelled live racing. The Maryland Jockey Club postponed Saturday's Winter Sprintfest program featuring the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) and $250,000 General George (G3) to Saturday, Feb. 20.

In addition to the Barbara Fritchie and General George for older sprinters, the Winter Sprintfest program includes the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-year-olds and up and $100,000 Nellie Morse for older females at about 1 1/16 miles.

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Arqana February Begins On Monday

Following online trade at Tattersalls and Goffs during the past fortnight, winter mixed sale trade moves to Deauville on Monday and Tuesday, where horses in training, broodmares, fillies, 2-year-olds and short yearlings will be offered at a physical Arqana February sale with strict COVID safety protocols in place.

The catalogue includes offerings from the reduction of Haras du Mont-dit-Mont, and the dispersal of the late Fabrice Petit. Mont-dit-Mont brings 13 lots, including Akemi (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) (lot 232), an 11-year-old listed winner who is the dam of the winning Mastercraftsman (Ire) colt Hurricane Bill (Ire) and who is in foal to Bated Breath (GB); and Riptide Wave (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 328), a daughter of the stakes-winning Rock Me Baby (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in foal to Belardo (Ire). The 18 horses that Marc Pimbonnet will offer for the Petit reduction, meanwhile, include a 2-year-old colt from the first crop of Al Wukair (Ire) out of the listed-winning Medolina (Aragorn {Ire}) (lot 55).

Maiden fillies are always a popular attraction at Arqana's breeding stock sales, and the February sale boasts some intriguing prospects. They include the 7-year-old Lady Paname (Fr) (Soldier Of Fortune {Ire}) (lot 160), who was a winner and multiple group placed in France for Elie Lellouche before being sold for €400,000 at Arqana December in 2017 and joining Chad Brown in the U.S., where she won the GIII Long Island S. the following autumn. Lady Paname was offered at Keeneland November last year but was bought back for $100,000.

The 5-year-old Jet Setteuse (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) (lot 315) was a dual winner at two and was three times stakes-placed in the subsequent two seasons, including a third behind subsequent Group 1 winner Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Imprudence. Jet Setteuse was last seen winning a seven furlongs conditions race at Dax last June.

The catalogue likewise features some attractive in-foal mares. Those include Quesnay's Oh Beautiful (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 148), a 12-year-old listed winner who has produced three winners and is in foal to Shalaa (Ire). Oh Beautiful is a granddaughter of Rahaam, whose legacy includes Halfway To Heaven (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and her Group 1-winning daughters Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as well as multiple Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and her Group 2-winning half-brother Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never), a young sire, and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

The winning 11-year-old mare Ingot Of Gold (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 165) is offered in foal to Almanzor (Fr), while Leaf Blower (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (lot 238), a full-sister to multiple Grade III winner Tricky Escape, is carrying to another young stallion with his first runners this year, Caravaggio. The winning Pebbles Place (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 258), an 8-year-old full-sister to G2 Superlative S. third Maxi Boy (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the family of Group 1 winners Mandean (GB) (Manduro {Ger}), Wavering (GB) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), is offered in foal to Phoenix Of Spain (Ire). Princess Isla (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 309) is also carrying to a sire with his first foals due in 2021, the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Ten Sovereigns (Ire). Princess Isla is a winning 5-year-old daughter of the multiple group placed Peinture Abstraite (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris scorer and sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) and his three stakes-winning siblings.

Another popular fixture of Arqana sales is the wildcards section, and this time around that features five offerings. The 3-year-old filly Otambura (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 150) is offered from the yard of trainer Christophe Ferland. Owned by Haras du Saubouas and Haras de Montaigu, Otambura has finished third in a pair of starts at Pau, going 1400 metres on Dec. 20 and going a mile on Jan. 30. She is out of the stakes-winning and G3 Prix Miesque second Kambura (Fr) (Literato {Fr}).

The progressive chaser Laskalin (Fr) (Martaline {Fr}) (lot 70) should be among the popular National Hunt offerings, the 6-year-old having been added to the sale last week. Laskalin's 2021 form includes a win in the Listed Prix Bernard de Dufau over fences at Pau.

A share in Haras de la Tuilerie stallion Masked Marvel (GB) was also added to the sale last week as lot 170. Masked Marvel, the winner of the 2011 G1 St Leger, has made a favourable start to his stud career, his first crop including the Grade 2-placed hurdler Gars En Noir (Fr) and the black-type performer Pacha Senam (Fr).

The catalogue also includes nearly 100 horses in training on the flat and over jumps, as well as 69 yearlings and 28 2-year-olds by sires like Almanzor, Iffraaj (GB), Kendargent (Fr), Le Havre (Ire), Shalaa and Sioux Nation.

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